University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Minnesota Whitecaps
Gophers Knock Off Whitecaps, 5-4
9/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Sept. 23, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS - The Golden Gopher women's hockey team scored three third-period goals on the way to a 5-4 win over the Minnesota Whitecaps in a preseason exhibition game at Ridder Arena Friday night.
Dani Cameranesi, Megan Wolfe, and Kippin Keller led the Gophers with two points each on one goal and one assist, and Sidney Peters made 18 saves on 20 shots over the first two periods before Serena D'Angelo recorded eight saves in the third period.
The Whitecaps were led by Hannah Brandt (2g), Kendall Coyne (2a), and Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson (2a) as each registered multiple points for the Whitecaps.
"What a great way to start off the year for us," University of Minnesota head coach Brad Frost said. "To play a really good Whitecaps team with five national team players on it and to see our freshmen get involved [was great]. I thought Sidney Peters and Serena D'Angelo did a great job in the net for us. It was just nice to get our feet wet a little bit before we go in some real games."
The teams exchanged goals in each period and were tied up 3-3 with less than five minutes remaining. Minnesota took its first lead of the game when freshman Alex Woken flipped a puck past Whitecaps netminder Shelby Amsley-Benzie with 4:25 to play. Fellow rookie Kippin Keller then made it 5-3 with 2:33 remaining. Despite an extra-attacker goal by Monique Lamoureux-Morando at 18:31 of the third, the back-and-forth game ended with the Gophers on top.
"I'm really happy with the result, the way our kids competed and battled back there a couple of times, and the win against that team," Frost said.
The Whitecaps scored first when Brandt converted on a feed from Coyne and Lamoureux-Davidson at 4:04 of the opening frame. Minnesota responded less than five minutes later when Tianna Gunderson scored her first collegiate goal. Kelsey Cline fired a shot on target from the point, and Keller took a swing at the rebound before Gunderson buried it behind Amsley-Benzie.
The second period saw Brandt score her second of the game before Cameranesi tied it up in the final minute of the middle frame. Patti Marshall found Cameranesi open on the doorstep, and she one-timed it past Amsley-Benzie with 49.1 seconds remaining.
The Whitecaps again took the lead early in the third period. Brooke White-Lancette capitalized on a Gophers' turnover deep in the Minnesota end. However, the Gophers again responded as Megan Wolfe scored on the power play with 8:02 remaining.
Minnesota outshot the Whitecaps, 34-30 for the game, despire being outshot 13-8 during the first period. Peters and D'Angelo combined for 26 saves while Amsley-Benzie recorded 29 saves for the Whitecaps.
The Gophers were one-for-five on the power play while holding the Whitecaps scoreless on three opportunities with the man advantage.
Minnesota officially opens up the 2016-17 season by hosting Lindenwood at home at 7:07 p.m. CT Friday, Sept. 30 and 2:07 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 1. The Gophers will hold a banner-raising ceremony to celebrate the program's 2016 NCAA national championship prior to Friday's season-opener. Tickets are on sale now!
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